Saints striker Austin turned in his ninth goal of the season from close range for a lead which the hosts kept for the remainder of a competitive contest with Claude Puel's men unfortunate not to score more.

Everton’s record over the years at Southampton has seen them win once in seven attempts, but a slow start in this one ultimately cost them as Saints moved to within two points of the visitors with a win over their old boss.

Young winger Josh Sims was rewarded for his record of five goals in nine Premier League 2 games with a first ever call into the senior side, and he started the game as part of the front three alongside Nathan Redmond and Charlie Austin.

Everton named former Saints loanee Maarten Stekelenburg in goal, with top scorer Romelu Lukaku leading the forward line for the visitors.

But it was the home debutant who made the early headlines with Sims playing a key role as Saints took the lead within a minute of play.

The winger played a neat interchange with Cédric before the ball was hooked back into the area where Sims helped the ball towards goal, and Austin was alert to head the ball in from close range to put the hosts in front.

Austin finds the net early on for Saints

The fast start saw Saints dictate the opening minutes of action, while skipper José Fonte thwarted Lukaku’s attempted break with a strong challenge on the halfway line, as Puel’s men were the sharper of the two teams early on.

Saints continued to assert their dominance on the game with Højbjerg firing a couple of efforts over the bar, while Sims had a downward header saved by Stekelenburg.

Redmond then let fly from distance, but his strike flew wide of the far post, and Austin had a low shot saved before Everton could muster their first effort of the game.

It came in the 26th minute, when Idrissa Gueye got on the end of a cutback from the right, but couldn't keep his shot down inside the area.

The visitors became visibly frustrated, while Saints ended the half on the front foot with Sims and Cédric again involved down the right side to create a diving header opportunity for Højbjerg at the far post which went wide.

Gueye fired over again from inside the area for the last chance of the half as Saints deservedly led at the break.

It was a busy first half of action for Josh Sims

There were no changes for either side for the new half, with Saints starting at the same intensity that they ended the opening 45 minutes.

Højbjerg struck an early effort into the side netting, before Sims had a shot from range which Stekelenburg had to get across to.

At the other end, Lukaku hit a free-kick with too much height on it, with the ball going into the crowd of visiting supporters behind the goal.

Everton threatened more as a result of Yannick Bolasie’s involvement further forward, with the former Crystal Palace winger striking an effort wide from the right.

However, Saints nearly got their second goal of the game just before the hour mark when Austin was left alone inside the area to head Cédric’s cross towards the bottom corner, and Stekelenburg made a fine save to claw it away from creeping in.

Austin looks back in disbelief as Stekelenburg keeps out his second half header

Bolasie drew a smart save out of Fraser Forster but was later penalised for a foul in the build up to his audacious overhead kick which the Saints ‘keeper blocked with his legs.

The hosts continued to create chances as they went in search of a second goal, with Sims’s cross narrowly evading Austin at the far post, before Ward-Prowse twice went close, the latter of which saw his deflected effort cleared from the line by Phil Jagielka.

José Fonte made a block on Séamus Coleman’s goalbound shot as the clock ticked towards the 90 minute mark, with Saints having to stand firm in the closing stages to seal their success.